songwriter demos and music studio
how to order a song demo
send in your material
If you have a lead sheet or music manuscript send it; We
read music and our singers will sing your song as written. We can
also work from your rough vocal cassette, CD or mp3. Please include a
lyric sheet.
If you want your melody followed exactly, we recommend ordering a lead
sheet. If not, we will come as close as humanly possible.
give us a metronome marking
This will give us the exact tempo of the song. This marking
is simply the BPM (beats per minute) If you do not know the bpm
make sure your version has a steady beat and close to the tempo you
want. A very simple way of
determining the bpm is to tap the
beat for 15 seconds (a stop watch will be handy here) and multiply this
number by four. This will give a very accurate metronome marking. If
you give us the choice of using our discretion in determining the tempo
please let us know.
send us a short sample
If you want your demo patterned after a certain song or artist give
us that information. If the song is not well-known and not
available on the internet please send a short mp3. (low quality is fine)
pattern your lyrics
Contemporary music consist of a verse (A pattern) and a chorus (B
pattern) and sometimes a bridge (C pattern). Repetition turns
these patterns into a song. Each A section should be consistent
with the other A sections in terms of syllables, chords etc. The B
section is usually the hook and should be repeated a few times during the
song. The C section (if any) often called the 'bridge' should be a short break and different
from the other sections just to add a little variety.
Recite your lyrics as if they were poetry. Do they flow?
Are they easy to read? Remember a vocalist has to interpret your
words; phrasing and flow are very important to the vocal
performance.
keep each section concise
Do not overwrite. In most cases, songs should be about 3 - 4 minutes
in duration. Give us some room to arrange. Remember: intros, turnarounds and solos add to the
total time of the recording. Lyrics should be limited to one page if at
all possible.
The above are good steps to follow regardless of the music studio
you work with. If your song has three pages of lyrics, a time signature
change in the chorus, and maybe a tempo change in the bridge, I can
almost guarantee a bad demo, no matter who does the job.
make sure your song is ready
Don't be afraid to edit, rewrite, go over and over every detail
until you're absolutely sure this song is the very best it can be. Is
the song different? Does it have a little different twist?
Maybe a really good hook, or a clever way of saying something. When
you've 'tweaked' your song to perfection, send it in.
ordering information
You can contact us here if you wish to order by regular mail; We accept
credit cards, personal checks and money orders. Send in your
cassette or CD and please include the lyric sheet.
Or, you can order online using the secure servers of paypal.
Paypall e-mails us directly after you place an order, and in return we
will send you confirmation. At this time you can email us
attaching the mp3 and lyric sheet.